Global Liveability Index 2026: Rankings, India & Key Highlights

Context:

Recently, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) officially released its Global Liveability Index 2026, which evaluates living conditions across 173 cities worldwide. Among Indian cities, New Delhi ranked 120^th rank in the index.

What is the Global Liveability Index?

The Global Liveability Index is an annual report published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) that assesses the quality of life in major cities across the world.

Objective:

• • • Compare living conditions across cities.
    • Help businesses assess hardship allowances for employees.
    • Evaluate the overall quality of urban life.

Assessment Criteria:

The Index evaluates 173 cities based on 30 qualitative and quantitative indicators grouped under five categories:

Each city receives a score out of 100, with higher scores indicating better liveability.

Top Rankings cities:

Performance of Indian Cities:

New Delhi and Mumbai maintained their rankings from 2025.

Indian cities continue to face challenges related to infrastructure, pollution, traffic congestion, and urban governance.

Global Trends:

• • • Western Europe continues to be the most liveable region, although its average score has remained largely unchanged.
    • Asian cities have shown improvement in overall liveability.
    • The report noted that geopolitical conflicts, including tensions in the Gulf region, negatively affected stability scores in some cities.

Urbanisation in India:

• • • Currently, around 35–36% of India's population lives in urban areas, which is projected to increase to 50% by 2047.
    • Indian cities contribute nearly 66% of the country's GDP, with Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru accounting for over 30% of the GDP.
    • Delhi is India's largest Urban Agglomeration.
    • The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 strengthened urban governance by providing for Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils, and Municipal Corporations.
    • Under the Smart Cities Mission (2015), 100 cities were selected, and over 94% of the projects have been completed.
    • Despite these initiatives, challenges such as traffic congestion, urban poverty, slums, and inadequate infrastructure persist. More than 17% of India's urban population lives in slums, while cities like Indore, Visakhapatnam, and Lucknow are emerging as important Tier-II and Tier-III growth centres.

Challenges for Indian Cities:

• • • Rapid urbanisation and population growth.
    • Traffic congestion and inadequate public transport.
    • Air pollution and environmental degradation.
    • Pressure on healthcare and civic infrastructure.
    • Urban governance and service delivery gaps.

Importance of Liveability:

A higher liveability ranking helps:

• • • Attract global investment.
    • Improve ease of living.
    • Enhance quality of life.
    • Attract skilled professionals and talent.
    • Promote sustainable urban development.

Conclusion:

The Global Liveability Index 2026 highlights the need for Indian cities to improve urban infrastructure, governance, and public services. Enhancing liveability is essential not only for improving citizens' quality of life but also for attracting investment, talent, and achieving sustainable urban development.